Vaporizing apparatus



Dec. 25, 1956 c, KRANc 2,775,006

VAPORIZING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1953 52751727 2" ffrim:

United States Patent VAPORIZING APPARATUS Casimir Kranc, Oshkosh, Wis.,assignor to Victrylite Candle Company, Oshkosh, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Application March 5, 1953, Serial No. 340,431

1 Claim. (Cl. 21-117) This invention relates to vaporizing apparatus onthe order of that disclosed in the copending application of Frank D,Turner, Serial No. 275,653, filed March 8, 1952, now abandoned, whereina candle provides the source of heat and eflects vaporization ofmedicaments, perfumes, insecticides, and similar volatile materials forthe treatment of air.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide improved vaporizingapparatus of the type comprising a vaporizing unit of a size to fitwithin the upper portion of an open-topped bowl or jar having a candlein its lower portion to supply the heat necessary for vaporization ofmaterial in the vaporizing unit.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision ofvaporizing apparatus of the character described wherein the vaporizingunit is annular to provide an upright central flue in vertical alignmentwith the candle wick to conduct hot gases from the candle flame upwardlyout of the apparatus, and wherein the vaporizing unit is held spacedfrom the surrounding walls of the jar so that such upward flow of hotgases through the flue induces a downward flow of air into the jarthrough the space around the exterior of the vaporizing unit, to supplycombustion air to the flame of the candle.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of avaporizing unit of the character described which may be very readilyfabricated either as an extremely inexpensive disposable container or asa refillable container.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of anevaporating vessel for use with a candle of the character described,which vessel, by reason of the shape of its walls, will very eflicientlyutilize the heat from the flame of the candle to effect evaporation ofits contents, but will nevertheless not interfere with the flow ofcombustion air into the bowl containing the candle.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of theherein-disclosed invention may be made as comewithin the scope of theclaim. a

The accompanying drawing illustrates two complete examples of thephysical embodiments of the invention constructed according to the bestmodes so far devised for the practical application of the principlesthereof. and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of one embodiment of the evaporatingapparatus of this invention showing the vaporizing unit lifted slightlyout of its normal position within the upper portion of the bowlcontaining the candle, portions of the apparatus being broken away andshown in section;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus showing thevaporizing unit of Figure l in place in the upper portion of the bowland illustrating the 2,775,006 Patented Dec. 25, 1956 ICC 2. manner inwhich combustion air is supplied to the candle flame; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2,but showing a modified embodiment of the evaporating unit of thisinvention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in whichlike numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, it willbe seen that the vaporizing apparatus of this invention comprises a bowl4 containing a candle 5 in its lower portion, and a vaporizing unit 6mounted within the upper portion of the bowl to be heated by the flameof the candle. The candle has an upright wick 9 extending through itscenter.

It is to be understood that the shape of the jar 4 is not material andthat an evaporating unit 6 embodying the principles of this invention isadapted for use with such candles when the same are contained in jars orbowls of virtually any of the common types now on the market. In thepresent instance the jar is shown provided with a more or lessspherically shaped side wall 7, but it may also have the shape, e. g.,of a water tumbler. In any event the jar has an open top or mouth 10 andpreferably, although not necessarily, is made of glass or plastic which,in practice, is usually colored to enhance the attractiveness of thecandle, since the candle may be used for ornamental or utilitarianpurposes without the evaporating unit 6.

The evaporating or vaporizing unit of this invention comprises, ingeneral, an annular, relatively deep, troughlike vessel or container 12.The container 12 is shown provided with an upwardly convergingfrusto-conical radially inner wall 13 and a substantially cylindricalradially outer wall 14 concentric with the inner wall. The conical shapeof the inner wall 13, however, is merely illustrative, as it may be madeperfectly cylindrical and concentric with the outer wall 14 withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Preferably the inner and outer walls 13 and 14 of the container areintegral with the annular bottom wall 15, from which they extendupwardly. The container is of course fashioned of heat conductivematerial, preferably light metal. The radially inner wall of thecontainer has a diameter such that it may embrace the flame of a candleand define a vertical flue along which the hot gases from the candleflame escape upwardly to the atmosphere. Moreover, when this inner wallis of frustoconical shape, the vessel may derive somewhat more of theheating efiect from the candle flame than would be the case if it werecylindrical. In either event, however, the container is very eflicientlyheated by the candle, since its inner wall is adapted to embrace thecandle flame and provide a vertical flue through which the hotcombustion gases must pass toreach the atmosphere. It should be noted,however, that when the inner wall 13 of the container is offrusto-conical shape, there is little or no tendency for the candleflame to smoke even though the wick might be slightly eccentric withrespect to the flue provided by this inner wall.

The diameter of the outer wall 14 is less than that of the mouth of thebowl and the wall thereof surrounding the vessel, so as to enable thecontainer to fit within the upper portion of the bowl with the outerwall 14 of the vessel spaced radially a distance from the surroundingwall 7 of the bowl.

The container or vessel 12 is adapted to hold a quantity of volatilematerial such as perfume, medicament, or insecticide, and when thecontainer is set in place within the neck of the candle jar, itscontents are heated by the candle flame and are evaporated, to bediffused into the atmosphere. In one form of the invention, thatemploying a. disposable vaporizing unit, the container has an annularcover 16. permanently closing its .top, and vapor is expelled from theunit through one or more restricted orifices 17 in this closure or topwall, the orifices being sufficiently small to cause. a substantialvapor pressure to be generated in the container so that the vapor willbe blown out of the container with. some force, promoting its difiusionin the air to be treated.

The evaporating unit is supported within the upper portion or neck ofthe bowl by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced. arms 18thereon extending radially outwardly from its exterior at the top of thecontainer, and having a ring 19 joined to their outer ends. The ring hasa diameter to rest on the ledge or rim 20 at the mouth of the candle jarto suspend the container with its bottom wall a substantial distancebeneath the open top of the jar but above the ,top of the mass of wax inthe jar. The supporting ring and the radial arms, of course, may becollectively considered as a flange around the top of the vessel havingapertures 21 defined by the spaced arms 18. The supporting ring issubstantially L-shaped in cross-section, to provide an outwardly facingcircumferential shoulder 22 which cooperates with the rim of the jar tohold the vessel centered within the upper portion of the bowl, with theflue defined by its inner wall 13 in vertical alignment with the candlewick and with its outer wall 14 spaced from the surrounding wall of thebowl. As indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, the flame of the candlewill induce a downdraft of combustion supporting air through theapertures 21 between the radial supporting arms 18 and the space betweenthe outer wall of the container and the surrounding wall of the jar,such air then passing radially inwardly between the surface of the bodyof wax 7 and the bottom wall 15 of the container, to the flame.

The evaporating vessel of this invention may be inexpensivelyconstructed in any of several forms. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate adisposable container embodying the principles of this invention andwhich is intended to have its contents sealed into it at the factory,the container being thrown away after its contents have been completelyvaporized. In this embodiment of the invention the top closure of thecontainer is integral with the supporting flange comprising the radialarms 18 and supporting ring 19. The radially inner and outer walls havetheir upper marginal edge portions turned radially inwardly and radiallyoutwardly, respectively, as at 23 and 24, respectively, to providenarrow flanges, and, after the trough-like annular body of the vessel isfilled with vaporizable material, both the peripheral portion 26 of thetop closure, between the radial supporting arms 18, and the edge portionof its central aperture are clinched over these flanges to afford aliquid-tight seal for the vessel. The cover is preferably provided withsmall weakened dimples which the user may pierce with a sharp tool toform the necessary apertures through which the vaporized contents mayescape.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3 the container orvaporizing unit likewise comprises an annular, substantially deep,trough-like body portion having integral inner, outer, and bottom walls,13, 14, and

15, respectively, but the top wall or closure 16 has a readilyreleasable connection with the body of the container, such as thewell-known screw-on connection 28 comparable to a bayonet joint, topermit the user to remove the closure and refill the container. Suitableannular gaskets 29 and 30, on the upper edges of the upright inner andouter walls respectively, prevent leakage of the contents duringshipment and/ or handling of the container prior to. its installation inthe candle bowl. In this case the supporting flange on the unit isformed separately from the top closure, and may comprise an annularstamping 31 secured to the body of the vessel in any desired manner,near its top.

From the foregoing description, taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, it will be readily apparent that this invention provides animproved but inexpensive vaporizing apparatus in which the heat of acandle flame is most etficiently utilized to heat and vaporize thematerial in the vaporizing unit, by reason of the fact that the unitprovides a central vertical flue in line with the candle flame so thatthe. flame will induce a downdraft of air into the bowl for travelthrough the passage defined by the space between thev unit and thesurrounding wall of the bowl, over the exterior of the unit and remotefrom those surfaces thereof exposed to the heat of the candle flame,such air supporting combustion at the candle wick.

What I claim as my invention is:

A vaporizing vessel of the type which is adapted to be placed withinvthe mouth of a jar containing a candle, to be heated by the flame of thecandle to effect vaporization of insecticide, perfume, medicament or thelike in said vessel, comprising: an annular trough-like containeradapted to contain vaporizable material, the inner wall of saidcontainer defining an upright flue through which hot gases from theflame of the candle may travel upwardly, and the bottom Wall of thecontainer being annular; a substantially flat annular cover on saidcontainer having apertures therein through which vaporized material fromthe vessel may be expelled to the atmosphere; a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced radial supporting arms integral with the coverand extending radially outwardly therefrom, said arms having portions attheir outer ends engageable with an upwardly facing ledge on. a jarcontaining a candle to support the cover in the mouth of the jar; anddownwardly and radially inwardly curled portions on. the periphery ofthe cover, between said arms, engaged under radially outwardlyprojecting bead portions on the top of the outer wall of the containerto secure the cover to the container and support the container in themouth of the jar with its outer wall spaced from the wall of the jar toenable a down draft of combustion air to flow to the flame of thecandle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS535,849 McDonald Mar. 19, 1895 579,374 Allen Mar. 23, 1897 FOREIGNPATENTS 79,252 Germany Ian. 26, 1895 9,589 Norway June 10, 1901

